60 inch belly mower concern

snowmobill

New member

Equipment
bx23s
Dec 28, 2019
2
0
1
81
fostoria ohio usa
60 inch mid mount belt concern

I purchased a new bx23S with a 60 inch belly mower this past summer. A big concern of mine is the sloppiness of the belt. It slaps around so much it hits itself and the bolts that attach the belt shields. I smell the belt while mowing and black residue collects on the deck. Its been checked and adjusted by the dealer and by service reps and all reach the same conclusion; that it measures up to factory specifications and that's just the way they all are. Has anyone else observed this and should I be concerned?
 

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BlindBuck

New member

Equipment
B2601
Jan 3, 2020
9
1
1
PA
I have a 60" driveover deck on my 2380 and it doesn't do anything like what you are describing. Only time I've ever smelled a burnt belt is right before I had one snap on a Cubcadet I had a decade ago.

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D2Cat

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,057
4,417
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Sounds like you have the wrong belt, or the belt with the correct number is mis-marked. Might take the belt off and measure it, then compare it to a new one at the dealer.
 

fmgsr

Member
Dec 19, 2018
39
4
8
PA
Sounds like you have the wrong belt, or the belt with the correct number is mis-marked. Might take the belt off and measure it, then compare it to a new one at the dealer.
No, D2Cat, A dealer wouldn't do that.
He's right, that's what it sounds like.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
28,836
5,198
113
Sandpoint, ID
Have you checked the belt tension spring and pulley, for damage or stretch?
 

rjcorazza

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Equipment
L4060 HSTC Loader, ZD326, ZD1211
Mar 9, 2016
778
22
18
Hyattstown, MD
There are a lot of things to check when diagnosing belt problems. Some that come to mind are:
Confirm (measure) belt
Confirm all pulleys are free and not damaged (check with belt off)
Check for debris jammed in pulley (rare, but happens)
Check tensioning arm for free movement and good tension

My walk behind belt was slapping around several years ago. Everything looked good with the belt on, and rotated smoothly with good tension from the tensioner. Further inspection with the belt off revealed that the tensioning pulley halves (rivited together) were coming apart.


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SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
926
113
SE, IN
I purchased a new bx23S with a 60 inch belly mower this past summer. A big concern of mine is the sloppiness of the belt. It slaps around so much it hits itself and the bolts that attach the belt shields. I smell the belt while mowing and black residue collects on the deck. Its been checked and adjusted by the dealer and by service reps and all reach the same conclusion; that it measures up to factory specifications and that's just the way they all are. Has anyone else observed this and should I be concerned?
Something is wrong.

If the belt is correct and undamaged and the idler and spring are as designed, perhaps, the belt has broken chords and/or a pulley is bent or otherwise damaged. A belt with broken chords will vibrate badly even if it appears visually to be OK.

SDT
 

D2Cat

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,057
4,417
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Make sure the belt is running in the correct position. It's possible to have it on the wrong side of a pulley and yet somewhat "fit", but it won't perform correctly.
 

rogerwh0825

Member

Equipment
BX2660
Nov 14, 2017
46
0
6
Havana, Fl. US
My neighbor had one vibrating really bad. There was a sweet gum ball stuck in one of the pullies.
Had something very similar happen on my ZT. A half chewed up pine cone got wedged in the pulley. It was very hard to see. I could tell which pulley was making the racket but when I pulled the belt off it was solid and smooth as can be. I had the dang thing almost off the mower housing for further inspection before I finally noticed it.
 

MadMax31

Member

Equipment
BX23S, 60" MMM
Nov 5, 2014
766
8
18
New York
My 60 mmm does none of that... Itll be three years old in May and Ive only greased the zerks every 10-15 hours.

I admittedly abuse it. Ill raise it all the up and use it as a bush hog in certain parts of my property where its tall heavy grass. The golden rod gets chopped by the rotary cutter, Im not that crazy...
 

Bmbbm

Member

Equipment
Bx2370 land pride box blade 60"mmm kubota fel
May 29, 2016
282
6
18
Chillicothe mo
Good advice. Some thing is wrong . I'm on my second BX with 60" deck and no problem your having.
 

jav1948

New member

Equipment
Kubota Bx2680
May 22, 2022
7
1
3
15714
I bought a bx2680 in may & the mower belt slaps quite violently making a fair amount of noise. Is this normal
 

jav1948

New member

Equipment
Kubota Bx2680
May 22, 2022
7
1
3
15714
Dealer says there is no belt tensioning adjustment on my new 2021 bx2680 mower/ tractor. This is not the drive over deck. Does that sound correct. I get of belt slapping & noise from the mower & i think the noise is the belt.